Chick Corea – Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy

I really only knew this group from their first album on ECM, so this one caught me a bit off guard. Of course, the hip had changed quite drastically between that album and this one, so it shouldn't be too surprising that the group's sound would change, but what a difference! Whereas the first album featured a range of shifting moods and tempi, this album is almost relentlessly intense, perhaps even somewhat to its detriment. The sound is much more rock-oriented, and mostly devoid the Latin feel that Airto and Flora brought to the original lineup. These musicians are all clearly virtuosi, but virtuosity to what end? I'm afraid this veers a bit too close to the kind of chops-for-chops-sake fusion that originally turned me, and I think a lot of other people, off to the genre.
It is a bit better than all that, actually, and I'm sure many people will find much to enjoy here (as I did myself), and the funky groover Space Circus was a particular standout. But I suppose I just expected a bit more range and nuance from such a talented group of players.
The recording and pressing are quite good, and do a good job of capturing the surprisingly wide array of sounds conjured by what is, after all, only four men.

This vinyl pressing for ten bucks in NM condition will blow away pretty much any audiopile press that may exist (of anything?). They got it right the first time and this is pressed hot and blows out of my speakers with a mission to melt skulls. The Tidal HD version seems like a shy kitten in comparison.

Lip smackin' and ear crackin' fusion. The band is tighter than a new Porsche's cornering abilities. Music is intense and rhythmically all over the place. If you wear a pace maker beware this music is not coma inducing light jazz like Bob James rather high energy materiali sonori! All from an era where "some" jazz musicians where still bold enough to venture into anything stylistically that fit their fancy!